Tire so easily - just want to be young again!

[anxiousrecoverer]

Hi, I went on antidepressants and all physical symptoms (which for me was feeling drained, exhausted and spaced all the time) went away, as did all anxiety. But the underlying low mood/mild depression has stuck around. Despite things going better for me, I still seem to tire so easily. I now have the energy to go out and about and have a social life, and for that I am unbelievably grateful, it has been literally years since I could do that. But I can't seem to do two days in a row because I feel crushed with exhaustion after activity. I know I have to give it time and not get impatient, but I'm only 26 and I already feel like I've missed out on most of my youth because of years of exhaustion meaning I can't live the same life as my friends. I'm desperate to have the energy to be able to go outside twice in a weekend! Apart from anything, it's so boring and miserable staying inside all the time and I'm sure that's the biggest reason for my feelings of depression, but the exhaustion just smacks me in the face after a day of activity and I can't cope. If I push myself to do things anyway, I just feel worse and have to go home.

I guess I'm just looking for reassurance that this will get better. Today I have been outpaced by my 50+-year-old mother and her boyfriend, who have gone out for another full day of activity after yesterday - and her boyfriend has a broken leg! They were drinking yesterday and I stayed completely sober to ensure I didn't make things harder for myself today, but I still feel older than them because I can't hack anymore activity. I just want to sleep.

[Hidden]

Hi anxiousrecoverer. Want to be young again! But you are young and on your way to FULL recovery. Nervous exhaustion is the last symptom to go as you have drained yourself with the constant hammering of the anxiety you have had. But it does pass with TIME. Patience is the last thing that many of us can feel, but it has to be done and, to repeat, it does take TIME to recover completely.You will do it if you do not look anxiously over your shoulder expecting the worse. Lucky boy friend!. He only had a broken leg!! Do not compare yourself with others. They have not been through what you have, which is an entirely different matter. Have you seen your GP? Just get a check and then be re-assured. I am a lot older than you and I can really assure you that if you stick it out (difficult I know) YOU WILL GRADUALLY GET BETTER. Please believe me. Anti-depressants can have this effect so, as said before, see your GP. Do not flog yourself with unnecessary worry.Your depression is caused by "background anxiety". You are like a big bell that has been rung and the vibrations are taking a time to die down. Take heart. Look forward to a full life, which you will have. Blessings and happy days to you. jonathan.

[anxiousrecoverer in reply to Hidden]

Thanks Jonathan. I hope you're right and it'll just go away soon! I've decided to take similar advice given to those with CFS and just kind of work up to normal activity, giving myself rest in between rather than either giving up and doing nothing, or trying to be 'normal' and feeling like I've been hit by a lorry!

I think in my case the depression causes the anxiety, so I'm seeing a counsellor and on anti-depressants to try and get rid of that. I've been tested for everything physical and going back to docs in a couple of weeks for a check up about the pills so I'll let her know about the drained feeling.

Thanks for your advice!

[hairyfairy]

HI, I`m wondering if there might be any physical issues going on, such as thyroid prblems, or anemia. If I were you I would have your doctor do a blood test just to rule these out.

[anxiousrecoverer in reply to hairyfairy]

Thanks for your advice. I've actually been tested for absolutely everything because the doctor was cautious not just to call it 'stress' since I'm not consciously very stressed (although my boyfriend tells me I violently toss and turn, twitch and grind my teeth through the night so I guess I must be!) They've done really comprehensive blood work and stuff and apparently I'm well within healthy ranges for everything, so it must just be psychological.

[john80614]

You should all try a thing called "Binaural Beats", these computer generated sound files are said to massage your brain and produce all sorts of effects, and are excellent for stress/ depression/ anxiety disorders. A binaural beat is created by playing a different tone in each ear through headphones, and the interference pattern between the slightly differing frequencies creates the illusion of a beat. It's completely safe and scientifically proven - google it!!

If you search the Internet for "binaural beats" you'll quickly find there's a whole industry built on the idea that listening to binaural beats can produce all kinds of desired effects in your brain. It can alter your mood, help you follow a diet or stop smoking, get you pumped up for a competition, calm you down, put you to sleep, enhance your memory, act as an aphrodisiac, cure headaches, and even balance your chakras